# US 5,701,650 A · Tools for inserting and removing liner outlet spouts

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- Number: US 5,701,650 A
- Document ID: US5701650A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/799,987
- Filed: 1997-02-13
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1993-05-25
- Assignees: Custom Packaging Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: Arthur E. LaFleur; Lee LaFleur
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5701650A

## CPC

- B29C 66/61: {Joining from or joining on the inside (for making tubes by bending sheets and joining from the inside B29C53/387)}
- B29C 65/00: Joining {or sealing} of preformed parts {, e.g. welding of plastics materials}; Apparatus therefor {(general aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts B29C66/00; using porous material formed by internal pressure generated therein for joining preformed parts B29C44/1228, B29C44/326)}
- B29C 66/1222: {comprising at least a lapped joint-segment}
- B29C 66/1224: {comprising at least a butt joint-segment}
- B29C 66/1312: {Single flange to flange joints, the parts to be joined being rigid (the parts to be joined being flexible B29C66/133)}
- B29C 66/53247: {said spouts comprising flanges}
- B65D 77/06: Liquids or semi-liquids {or other materials or articles} enclosed in flexible containers disposed within rigid containers
- F16L 41/088: {fixed using an elastic grommet between the extremity of the tube and the wall}
- B29C 66/24221: {being circular (B29C66/51 takes precedence)}
- Y10T 29/53657: to apply or remove a resilient article [e.g., tube, sleeve, etc.]
- Y10T 29/53678: Compressing parts together face to face
- Y10T 29/53683: Spreading parts apart or separating them from face to face engagement
- Y10T 29/53826: Arbor-type press means
- Y10T 29/5383: having fluid operator
- Y10T 29/53896: having lever operator
- Y10T 29/53943: Hand gripper for direct push or pull
- Y10T 29/53987: Tube, sleeve or ferrule
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Tools for inserting a spout of a flexible bag liner into fluid-tight sealing and anchoring engagement with a discharge outlet of a container and for removing the spout from the outlet. The spout has at least two seal rings, preferably each having a pair of axially spaced and radially outwardly extending lobes, for firmly frictionally engaging the container discharge outlet to provide a fluid-tight seal between the spout and outlet and to anchor the liner within the container. The tools have a collet carried by a shaft for releasably engaging the spout to apply force to the spout during operation of the tools. In one form the tools are actuated by a hydraulic or pneumatic drive and in another form the tools are manually actuated by pivotally moving a lever arm.

## Claims

### Claim 1

For a bulk container having sidewalls, end walls and a discharge outlet tube, and wherein a flexible bag liner having a self supporting spout with a tubular neck telescopically receivable in the outlet tube may be received, a tool for inserting the spout into the discharge outlet comprising:
(a) a carrier shaft,
(b) a collet at one end of the carrier shaft for engaging and releasably retaining the spout thereon, said collet extending generally axially of the carrier shaft, said collet having at least two resilient fingers telescopically insertable into the tubular neck of the spout to releasably retain the spout on the collet,
(c) a lever arm pivotally connected adjacent one end to the carrier shaft adjacent the other end of the carrier shaft,
(d) a fulcrum arm spaced from the pivotal connection, fixed to the lever arm, extending generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of the lever arm and having a free end constructed to bear on a wall of the container,
(e) the lever and fulcrum arms being constructed so that when the tool is disposed in operative position in the bulk container the lever arm extends generally transversely of the carrier shaft when the free end of the fulcrum arm bears on a wall of the container, and
(f) the carrier shaft, lever arm and fulcrum arm are constructed to move said collet generally axially relative to the container discharge outlet for inserting the spout into the discharge outlet into firm frictional engagement therewith to positively anchor and seal the liner within the container when force is applied to generally pivotally move the lever arm relative to the carrier shaft and about the free end of the fulcrum arm.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1 wherein said collet comprises at least two flexible fingers for being telescopically inserted through the spout to releasably retain the spout thereon.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The tool of claim 2 wherein each of said fingers of said collet has an outwardly projecting generally arcuate retainer detent for providing an interference fit with the spout when received on said collet to releasably retain the spout on said collet.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The tool of claim 2 wherein each of said fingers of said collet has a pawl at the free end thereof for releasably retaining the spout on said collet and for engaging the spout to apply force thereto to remove the spout from the discharge outlet of the container.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1 also comprising an outwardly extending collar adjacent said collet for engaging the bag liner to prevent the liner from becoming disposed over the inlet opening of the container discharge outlet or becoming tangled with the tool to prevent the liner from being damaged when inserting the spout into the discharge outlet.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1 wherein said fulcrum arm is carried by said lever arm between its ends and constructed to bear on a wall of the container spaced from and generally opposed to the discharge tube of the container so that the lever arm can be manually moved to pivot about the free end of the fulcrum arm to move the collet generally axially to insert the neck of the spout into the discharge outlet into firm frictional engagement therewith.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The tool of claim 6 wherein said collet comprises a plurality of spring fingers constructed to be insertable into the neck of the spout in frictional engagement therewith to releasably retain the spout on the collet.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The tool of claim 6 wherein said lever arm is pivotally connected to said carrier shaft by a hinge with a pin having its pivotal axis extending generally transversely to the longitudinal axes of both said carrier shaft and said lever arm.

### Claim 9

For a bulk container having sidewalls, end walls and a discharge outlet tube, and wherein a flexible bag liner having a self supporting spout with a tubular neck telescopically receivable in the outlet tube may be received, a tool for at least one of inserting the spout into the discharge outlet and removing the spout from the discharge outlet comprising:
(a) a carrier shaft,
(b) a collect at one end of the carrier shaft for engaging and releasably retaining the spout thereon, said collet extending generally axially of the carrier shaft, said collet having at least two resilient fingers telescopically insertable into the tubular neck of the spout to releasably retain the spout on the collect,
(c) a lever arm pivotally connected adjacent one end to the carrier shaft adjacent the other end of the carrier shaft,
(d) a fulcrum arm spaced from the pivotal connection, fixed to the lever arm, extending generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of the lever arm and having a free end constructed to bear on a wall of the container,
(e) the lever and fulcrum arms being constructed so that when the tool is disposed in operative position in the bulk container the lever arm extends generally transversely of the carrier shaft when the free end of the fulcrum arm bears on a wall of the container, and
(f) the carrier shaft, lever arm and fulcrum arm are constructed to move said collet generally axially relative to the container discharge outlet for at least one of inserting the spout into the discharge outlet into firm frictional engagement therewith to positively anchor and seal the liner within the container and removing the spout from the outlet for removing the liner from the container when force is applied to generally pivotally move the lever arm relative to the carrier shaft and about the free end of the fulcrum arm.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The tool of claim 9 which also comprises another arm rigidly connected between its ends to said lever arm adjacent the other end of said lever arm, and said another arm being constructed so that adjacent one end it forms said fulcrum arm which can bear on a wall of the container when said collect is inserted in the spout while received in the container discharge outlet and said lever arm can be manually pivoted about said one end to move said collect generally axially away from the container and discharge outlet to remove the neck of the spout from the container discharge outlet.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The tool of claim 10 wherein said another arm is connected to said carrier shaft by a hinge having a pivot axis extending transversely to the longitudinal axes of both said carrier another arm and said lever arm.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The tool of claim 10 wherein said another arm is connected to said carrier shaft by a hinge having a pair of plates connected by a pivot pin with its axis extending generally transversely to the longitudinal axes of both said another arm and said lever arm, and when said collect is inserted into the neck of the spout while fully received in the discharge outlet, said hinge plates are overlapping and substantially parallel to each other.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The tool of claim 10 wherein said collet comprises a plurality of fingers receivable in the neck of the spout, and at least two of said fingers are generally diametrically opposed and have detents thereon which underlie and overlap the lower edge of the neck of the spout to retain the spout on the collet while the tool is manually actuated to remove the spout from the container discharge outlet.

### Claim 14 (depends on 6)

The tool of claim 6 wherein said collet comprises at least two flexible fingers extending from said carrier shaft for being telescopically inserted through the spout to releasably retain the spout thereon, at least two of said fingers each have an outwardly projecting generally arcuate retainer detent for providing an interference fit with the spout when received on said collect to releasably retain the spout on said collect.